Terror Plot Thwarted in Denmark?

The eight suspects arrested late on Monday in Copenhagen form part of a terror cell with links to a senior al-Qaeda figure, police said.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 29, were of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali and Turkish origin, police said.

Denmark's contribution to the US-led military campaign in Iraq has prompted fears that terrorists may target it. The country also drew anger from Muslims worldwide after a Danish newspaper last year printed cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

More likely the latter than the former as far as motive is concerned. Several prominent Islamists issued fatwas against the Danes for the publishing of those cartoons last year.

This isn't the first plot broken up by Danish authorities. They arrested 4 other Islamists last year on similar charges and 5 others in 2005. These raids have elicited calls from many Danish politicians to restrict immigration - something that is an anathema to the friendly, open nature of the Danish people. But the movement to crack down on immigration is gaining steam with the most recent arrests doing nothing to slow it down.

The eight suspects arrested late on Monday in Copenhagen form part of a terror cell with links to a senior al-Qaeda figure, police said.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 29, were of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali and Turkish origin, police said.

Denmark's contribution to the US-led military campaign in Iraq has prompted fears that terrorists may target it. The country also drew anger from Muslims worldwide after a Danish newspaper last year printed cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

More likely the latter than the former as far as motive is concerned. Several prominent Islamists issued fatwas against the Danes for the publishing of those cartoons last year.

This isn't the first plot broken up by Danish authorities. They arrested 4 other Islamists last year on similar charges and 5 others in 2005. These raids have elicited calls from many Danish politicians to restrict immigration - something that is an anathema to the friendly, open nature of the Danish people. But the movement to crack down on immigration is gaining steam with the most recent arrests doing nothing to slow it down.